Offering your interpretation services in official languages
Learn how to offer official languages interpretation services to the Translation Bureau.
On this page
- Offering your interpretation services in official languages
- Requesting security clearance
- Related links
Privacy notice
Personal information is collected on a voluntary basis pursuant to the Financial Administration Act. The information will be used by the Translation Bureau (Public Services and Procurement Canada – PSPC) to identify potential individuals and firms interested in offering their interpretation services. Refusal to provide personal information or missing information or supporting documents may result in the disqualification of individuals or firms from the bidding process. Personal information is described in the Standard Personal Information Bank Professional Services Contracts, PSU 912. Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to access and correct your personal information if it is erroneous or incomplete. Your personal information is protected, used and disclosed in accordance with the Privacy Act. If you need clarification about this statement, you can contact the PSPC Privacy Director by email at aiprp.atip@pwgsc.gc.ca, by phone at 873-469-3721, or by regular mail at the following address: Privacy Director, 5C1 Place du Portage, Phase III, Gatineau, Quebec Canada, K1A 0S5. For more general information on privacy issues and the Privacy Act, please visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s website or call 1-800-282-1376.
Offering your interpretation services in official languages
You can offer interpretation services in official languages as a service provider.
To become a supplier, you must complete the following steps.
Step 1: Meet the eligibility criteria
You must be eligible to work in Canada and ensure that you meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:
- have a university degree in conference interpretation
- have a university degree and have completed at least 20 days of official languages (English/French) conference interpretation
- experience must be within the past 2 years
- community or court interpretation does not qualify
- have at least 2 years’ experience in a conference interpreter position in a recognized organization, such as:
- Canadian legislatures
- European Union
- United Nations (UN)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- European Parliament
- be a member of the International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC)
- be certified as a conference interpreter by:
- the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec (OTTIAQ) or
- a provincial or territorial association affiliated with the Canadian Translators, Terminologists and Interpreters Council (CTTIC)
If you are a firm:
- you must ensure that each proposed resource meets the eligibility criteria
Step 2: Pass the Translation Bureau’s accreditation exam
If you would like to write the accreditation exam
- email the Translation Bureau at tpsgc.btaccreditationlo-tbolaccreditation.pwgsc@tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca
- include your résumé and the supporting documents demonstrating that you meet the eligibility criteria
If your file is complete and you meet the eligibility criteria, the Translation Bureau will:
- contact you
- invite you to write the accreditation exam
- inform you of upcoming exam dates
If you are a firm:
- each candidate on your team must pass the accreditation exam
Step 3: Register to become a Government of Canada supplier
For more information click on: Preparing to sell to the government | CanadaBuys
Step 4: Register in the Translation Bureau’s directory of linguistic services suppliers
- Complete and submit the registration form for the Translation Bureau’s directory of linguistic services suppliers online.
- Attach the supporting documents required according to the services being offered.
If you are a firm:
- you must provide the name of and supporting documents for each candidate on your team
For more information, contact the Translation Bureau.
Requesting security clearance
Suppliers themselves cannot request security clearance. The Translation Bureau will initiate the process according to operational needs.